Means for indicating the integrity of circuits



Feb. 19, 1924; 1,483,962 F. W. WOOD MEANS FOR INDICATING THE INTEGRITYOF CIRCUITS Filed Feb. 2'7. 1919 INVENTOH flaw/Z ZVWooa Y PatentedFeb."1 9,1924.

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MEANS FOR INDIOATING THE INTEGRITY OI OIBBUITS.

Application fllcd'lebruary 27, 1918. Serial Io. 379,840.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK W. WOOD, a citizen of the United States,residing at Montclair, in the county of Essex and btate of New Jersey,have invented new and usev ful Improvements in Means for Indicating theIntegrity of Circuits, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to means for indicating the integrity ofcircuits, pertaining more particular y to circuits of the alternatingcurrent type, and especially to conditions present where the indicatingmechanisms of a plurality of independent circuits may be located injuxtaposition.

The invention is capable of rather wide application, but for purposes ofexplanation of the problems presented and solved by its use underonerous conditions, a brief description is given of its installation inconnection with the running-light circuits of ships.

he number of circuits employed in installations for this purpose may belar e-in some instances as many as nine di erent circuits in parallelmay be utilized, each circuit controlling the operations of one, or morelamps. When inservice it is essential that the lamps be illuminatedconstantly for safety purposes, but such constancy is, of course,dependent on the lamp itself-if burned out the signal effect of thelighted lamp is lost; it therrfore becomes essential that a new lamp besubstituted as quickly operate under the change in type of currentossible. 0 meet these conditions it has been the practice to install thesystems in such manner as to provide a reserve lamp in position, withthe lamp circuit for a particular position divided to place the twolamps in parallel, ntilizin a convenientl -posit10ned switch to controlthe activity 0 one or the other of such parallel circuits. And since itis inconvenient to provide an attendant to watch the lit lamp, it hasbeen the practice to provide an automatic indicator-generally in theform of a relay in series with the lam the brea ing of a circuit by theburning out of the lamp, the switch being located to permit its beingrapidly thrown to render the reserve lamp active, the burned-out lampbeing replaced at leisure.

Heretofore it has been the utilize direct current for. supp ying these'ble and .visual signals.

which will give instant notice of notice todifferent circuits, and topermit of minimum attention the switches and relays have been assembledat one pointthe leads being brought to that pointwhere suitableindicating mechanisms can be installed to permit observation by a singleobserver, the mechanisms sometimes including both audi- This has beenmade possible through the use of direct current supzply. i

scent installations of lightin apparatus have, however, employed aternating current as the source of supply, raising cer* tain problems inthe operations of the indicating system described, these problems beingdue to the difference inactlon provided by the substitution ofalternating for direct current in these circuits. This difference ismade apparent more particularly in the rela s used in the circuits, thechange in type c humming, chattering, etc., in these relays to such anextent as to be extremel disagreeable, and where a multiplicity oi thesecircuits are employed, this noisy condition becomes so burdensome as togenerally cause the system to be out out of operation, therebypreventing the operation of the signals and eliminating the safetyfactor provided by the automatic operation intended.

It is to meet conditions of this kind that formed the basis of thepresent invention, by making it possible to utilize the generalcharacteristics of the system but to make it operation, durable inconstruction, and which can be manufactured and installed at relativelylow cost.

To these and other ends, the nature of which will be readily understoodas the in vention is hereinafter disclosed, said invention consists inthe improved construction and combination of parts hereinafter fullycurrent setting up conditions of describedpillustrated in theaccompanying drawings, and more part cularly pointed out in the appendedclaims.

In the accompanying drawings, in which Similar reference charactersindicate similar parts-in each of the views,

Figure 1 is an end elevation of a relay and indicator constructed inaccordance with my invention.

Fi 2 is a longitudinal sectional view oft e same, parts being shown inelevation.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view.

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic view illustrating a manner of use. I

In describing the invention I will first explain the generalconstruction of the relay, it forming a controlling factor of theinvention since it must be operative within the alternating currentcircuit and must be of a type which will solve the difficultiesinherently resent when operating under these conditlons.

l0 "designates the laminated core of an electromagnet, the coils beingindicated at 11 and shown as mounted on the legs oft he core, theparticular embodiment showing the core contour as generally U-shaped.The ends of the le s provide the poles of the magnet, the po ar facesbeing on the inner faces of the legs and made u ofthe exposed edges ofthe laminations. The polar faces are arranged ap roximately on the arcsof a circle, thus ma ing them concentric to an axis located midwaybetween the faces and which lies in the magnetic field of the magnetwhen the coils are energized.

The core is supported on a suitable base 12 by suitable members,indicated as pedestals 13, spacing the polar faces from the base asuitable distance. As shown, the supports at the ends of the legs arecarried above the core and form supports for a bar or plate 14 whichbridges the gap between the planes of the faces at a point SHICQd abovethe plane of the core legs as shown in Fig. 2.

Base 12 and plate 14 carry bearings for a spindle 15 located in saidaxis, said spindle carrying the armature 16 having a peripheral contourwhich includes faces complemental to the polar facespf the core, thesearmature faces being preferably spaced a suitable distance from thepolar faces. The armature is of laminated form,

with the sheets preferably having the con-' tour of the peripheralcontour of the armature, thus providing the armature faces by theadjacent edges of the laminations.

Since the arnrature is ivotally mounted on an axis forming the ocalpoint of the polar faces, the armature is movable relative to the polarfaces without possibility of contact w th the faces or any abutmentscarried thereby, so .that possibility of chatterout of a predeterminedposition.

ing'is eliminated. And as both core and armature. are of laminatedstructure, the usual humming produced in the presence of alternatingcurrent operation is greatly reduced or entirely absent.

Since the structure is operative as a relay the armature must be movableinto and This is had by connecting a coil s ring 17 to the spindle andto a pin depen ing from plate 14, the connection being such was to causethe s )ring to tend to move the armature. out of field and tea deflectedposition-counterclockwise in Fig. 3the, limit of movement int-hisdirection being provided by bringing a contact ltl-carred by an arm 18projecting from the'spindle-into contact engagement with a contact 19carried by a bracket 20 supported by andinsulated from the base, contact19 being preferably carried by a leaf spring 19 which tends tocushionthe engagement when made. The movement of the armature from this latter)osition into attracted position is provided \y the activity of themagnetic field when the coils are energized. the movement being inopposition to the tension of spring 17 and in a direction clockwise inFig. 3, the latter view indicating the osition of the armature with thefield active. contacts 18 and 19 being separated at this time.

21 indicates a member for holding the an arm 22 carried by the spindleand which carries a flat plate 22 at its free end, and a plate-likemember 23 positioned above the coils and extending beneath the path ofmovement of plate 22 (Fig. 2) The relative arrangement of the parts maybe such that plate 22 may be located above member .23 when the armatureis in the medtion of Fig. 3, or by changing the position of the arm,this position may be had when the armature is shifted to its oppositeextreme-the form shown in the drawings is preferred.

The visible signal is given by the exposure of a suitable indication,which may be carried by plate 22 or by member 23, and is preferably of atype to call specific attention to the indication when the circuitthrough the coils .is broken. For this purpose the indication may be inthe form of a distinguishing marking-as for instance a coloreddisc-placed on member 23 in a position to be hidden by plate 22 when thearmature is in the position of Fig. 3the exposure opening of the casing(not shown) being. opposite the indicationor the mark may be on plate 22with the casing opening positioned to provide exposure of the mark whenplate 22 has been shifted to the opposite extreme of its length ofmovement.

its attracted position in the magnetic of a single lamp the auxili arObviously, the signal may provided when the circuit is unbroken,byplacingthe mark on plate 22" and locatin the exposure opening abovethis point in ig. 3. And as will be understood, both plate 22' andmember 23 may each carry marks differing from each other, so that withthe sight opening properly positioned, one mark will be VlSllJlrB' withthe circuit unbroken and a difi'erent mark visible when break in thecircuit occurs.

While I have referred to the limitin devices as in the form of contacts18 an 19, it will be understood that the invention is not'limited inthis respect, since these ele ments-used in the present embodiment asthe; elements of a circuit make and'break means-ma be sim lystopelements of any preferred orm. ere operative as make and breakstructures, the leads may be operatively connected to sprin 19" and thespindle or arm 18" in any pre erred manner. For illustrating the generaloperation, I have shown, in Fig. 4, a diagrammatic view of a simple.circuit which includes a source of electrical supply M, a lamp L aridswitch S, coils 11 being shown diagrammatically, as is the armature. Aswill be seen, the coils and lamp are in series, so that while thecircuit remains unbroken the armature will be held to break an auxiliarycircuit between contacts, 18 and 19, the auxiliary circuit being shownas including a gong or hell G. While the through the lampt mainsunimpaired, the armature will be h in sition to maintain the-auxiliarycircuit bro en, breaking of the main circuit permitting shifting of thearmature to complete circuit and sound the au ible signal, the c angesin position of the armature affecting the visual signals in apredetermined manner, as pointed out.

As will be readily understood, a number of these main. circuits may beconnected in arallel, each having its individual relay, and theauxiliary circuits may be so arranged as to be operative on a singleaudible signal. This is rmitted because of the fact that the re ayoperations are made noiseless-or substantially soby the particular formof the relay, and the number which may be present at any pointbecomesimmaterial, the audible signal callin attention to the fact that one ormore of t is main circuits has been impaired, and a rapid inspection ofthe indicators of the relays will determine the particular circuitinvolved. Upon restoring the circuit, the relay gives immediate-note ofthe fact through the movement of the armaturean advanta in the controlof running lights, in case 0 the use circuit, since it automatirapiditywith which the have been carried out.

e main circuit-recally signals the orders for repairs integrity of thecircuit 1d As will be readily under stood, the use of the laminatedarmature, pivoted in the axis of the magnetic field-forming elements,does not require that the polar and armature 'faces ass into contact. Inpractice, a considera le space is left between the opposing faces, thusnot only eliminating all possibility of production of noises throughcontact, but at the same time eliminating the possibility of dustbridging the space and tending to retard the movements of the relays Themounting of the armature is such as to provide easy movement of the armature even with comparatively small currents, thus making the relaysensitive in action and of comparatively small size. in this connection,it may be noted that a standard relay in service, employed on 110 and120 volt'circuits has the diameter of its base 12 three inches.

While I have herein shown and described a referred embodiment of theinvention an ways in which it may be carried out, it will be readilyunderstood that changes or modifications therein may oe found desirableor necessary in meeting the exigencies of use, and I'desire to beunderstood as reserving the right to make all such changes ormodifications as may be found desirable or essential, in so far as thesame may fall within the spirit and scope of the invention as expressedin the accompanying claims.

Having thus described my invention, whatv I claim as new is i 1. Analternating current relay comprisinga base, a stator carried by saidbase and including an eleetromagnet and a laminated core terminating inoppositely positioned poles, a rotor carried by said base and includingopposed bearings located between the poles ofthe stator, an armature andits shaft journalled therein, the armature being movable into attractedand deflected pose tions upon 'energization and deenergization of thesaid electromagnet, cooperating contact elements including a stationarycontact element carried by the said base and a movable contact e'lementcarried by the said armature shaft, and a resilient device active forshifting said armature and shaft to its deflected position and foreffecting engagement of said contact elements upon deenergization of theelectromagnet, the said contact elements forming a means for limitingthe deflected position of the armature and for closing an electricCliCtllt.

I 2. An alternating current relay comprising a base, a stator carried bythe base and includinga field electromagnet and a core terminating inoppositely positioned poles, a bearing plate'carried by the said baseand spaced therefrom. aligned hearings in the said base and platerespectively, a rotor including an armature having a shaft journaled inthe said bearings, the armature being movable into attracted anddeflected po- 'sitions upon energization and deenergization of Saidelectromagnet, cooperating contact elements including a resilientlymounted stationary contact element carried by the base and a contactelement connected to said armature shaft for movement therewith, and aspring surrounding the said armature shaft and anchored at opposite endsto the said shaft and to the said bearing plate, the

said spring: being active for shifting the armature to its deflectedposition and for effecting engagement of said contact elements upondeenergization of the electromagnet, the said contact elements forming ameans for limiting the deflected position of the armature and forclosing an electric circuit.

3. An alternating current relay comprising a base, a stator carried bysaid base and including an electromagnet and a laminated coreterminating in oppositely positioned poles, a rotor carried by said aseand including opposed bearings located between the poles of thestatoiyan armature and its shaft journalled therein, the armature beinmovable into attracted and deflected positions upon energization anddeenergization of the said ele'ctromagnet, cooperating contact elementsincluding a stationary contact element carried by the said base and amovable contact element carried by the said armature shaft, and aresilient device active for shifting said armature and shaft to itsdeflected position.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand. y

.1 RANK W. WOOD.

